Conveyer apparatus and meandering correction method

Abstract

A floatation roll supports a work to be conveyed contactlessly using a force applied to the work contactlessly. The floatation roll has a cylindrical shape extending in a direction of width of the work, and at least a surface of the floatation roll facing the work being formed by a circumferential surface. A driving unit rotates the floatation roll in a yaw direction. Of a wrap angle of the work supported by the floatation roll contactlessly, a wrap angle on an entry side with respect to an apex point and a wrap angle on an exit side with respect to the apex point are set to be different.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A conveyer apparatus comprising:
 a floatation roll that supports a work to be conveyed contactlessly using a force applied to the work contactlessly, the floatation roll having a cylindrical shape extending in a direction of width of the work, and at least a surface of the floatation roll facing the work being formed by a circumferential surface;   a driving unit that rotates the floatation roll in a yaw direction; and   a control unit that determines an amount of rotation of the floatation roll in the yaw direction based on an amount of misalignment of the work in the direction of width and controls the driving unit based on the amount of rotation determined,   wherein, of a wrap angle of the work supported by the floatation roll contactlessly, a wrap angle on an entry side with respect to an apex point and a wrap angle on an exit side with respect to the apex point are set to be different   wherein, in a case where the wrap angle on the entry side is set to be larger than the wrap angle on the exit side,   the control unit causes, when the work is misaligned rightward with respect to a conveyance direction from a target position in the direction of width, the driving unit to rotate the floatation roll clockwise in accordance with the amount of misalignment and causes, when the work is misaligned leftward with respect to the conveyance direction from the target position in the direction of width, the driving unit to rotate the floatation roll counterclockwise in accordance with the amount of misalignment.   
     
     
         2 . The conveyer apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the work is a lithium foil.   
     
     
         3 . A meandering correction method, comprising:
 rotating, by a driving unit, a floatation roll in a yaw direction based on an amount of misalignment, in a direction of width, of a work to be conveyed;   supporting, by the floatation roll, the work contactlessly using a force applied to the work contactlessly, the floatation roll having a cylindrical shape extending in the direction of width of the work, and at least a surface of the floatation roll facing the work being formed by a circumferential surface,   wherein, of a wrap angle of the work supported by the floatation roll contactlessly, a wrap angle on an entry side with respect to an apex point and a wrap angle on an exit side with respect to the apex point are set to be different   wherein, in a case where the wrap angle on the entry side is set to be larger than the wrap angle on the exit side; and   a control unit causing, when the work is misaligned rightward with respect to a conveyance direction from a target position in the direction of width, the driving unit to rotate the floatation roll clockwise in accordance with the amount of misalignment and causing, when the work is misaligned leftward with respect to the conveyance direction from the target position in the direction of width, the driving unit to rotate the floatation roll counterclockwise in accordance with the amount of misalignment.